The 38th annual Crimes Against Children Conference, the world’s largest conference devoted to training people who investigate, prosecute and respond to crimes against children, is being held at the Sheraton Dallas Hotel in Dallas, Texas. The conference, which runs from Sunday to Thursday, August 6, will feature over 500 live sessions and more than 50 on-demand sessions, covering topics such as digital forensics, online exploitation, child trafficking, medical care, forensic interviewing and courtroom testimony.
Conference Details
More than 4,900 child-protection professionals from over 16 countries are expected to attend the conference. The Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center will host the conference, which will include a plenary address by former NFL quarterback and child-protection advocate Tim Tebow on Monday at 8 a.m.
Tebow, the founder and chairman of the Tim Tebow Foundation, has been a vocal advocate for child protection and has urged Congress to devote more resources to identifying and rescuing children depicted in sexual-abuse material. The conference will provide a platform for professionals to share their expertise and learn from each other to better combat crimes against children.
Child Abuse Statistics
According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, there were 581 possible child abuse- and neglect-related fatalities in fiscal year 2025, down from 587 a year earlier and a 10-year high of 997 in fiscal year 2022. The agency confirmed that abuse or neglect caused 124 deaths in fiscal year 2025, up 25% from 99 a year earlier.
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children received over 234,000 CyberTipline referrals in 2025, including more than 65,900 related to the possession, distribution or production of child sexual abuse material and more than 67,700 concerning online enticement. The organization also received reports of 5,416 missing children from Texas during the year.
Nationally, the CyberTipline received 21.3 million reports in 2025, with more than 400,000 reports having a generative-artificial-intelligence connection, and more than 182,000 involving someone possessing, generating or attempting to generate AI-created child sexual abuse material.
The FBI Dallas and the North Texas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force announced 276 child-exploitation arrests and the rescue of 89 children through Operation Soteria Shield in March and April. The Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center coordinates child-abuse investigations, prosecutions and healing services in Dallas County, serving 12,049 children and eligible family members in 2025.
Anyone who reasonably suspects child abuse or neglect must report it immediately under Texas law. Texans can call the Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400 or report suspected abuse online. Anyone who believes a child faces immediate danger should call 911.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
